Find Tulare County Warrants

Tulare County warrant records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office in Visalia and the Superior Court throughout this Central Valley agricultural county of over 470,000 residents. The Sheriff's Office at 2404 W Burrel Ave handles all warrant operations and serves active warrants across cities including Visalia, Tulare, Porterville, and Dinuba. You can reach the Sheriff at (559) 636-4625 or the Records Division at (559) 802-9538 for warrant inquiries. According to the Sheriff's website, at the time the Warrant Unit was created there were more than 50,000 active warrants for individuals in Tulare County, showing the large volume of warrants the county processes. Both arrest warrants and bench warrants remain active in the county system until they are served or recalled by the court.

Check Warrants in Tulare County

The Tulare County Sheriff's Office Records Division is your main contact point for warrant checks. They are at 2404 W Burrel Ave in Visalia. Call (559) 802-9538 to reach the Records Division or (559) 636-4625 for general Sheriff inquiries. You may need to visit in person with a photo ID to get specific warrant information. The Sheriff's staff can search the system to see if you have an active warrant.

Tulare County does not have a public online warrant search portal. You must contact the Sheriff's Office or the Superior Court directly. Phone requests for warrant info may be limited. For the most accurate info, visit the office in person with your ID. If you have an active warrant, be prepared that you may be arrested on the spot depending on the charge and bail amount.

The Superior Court issues all warrants for Tulare County. When you miss a court date, the judge can issue a bench warrant. When new charges are filed and you are not in custody, the judge may issue an arrest warrant. Both types remain active until you are arrested or the court recalls them. Warrants do not expire on their own.

The fact that Tulare County once had over 50,000 active warrants shows how many people have outstanding warrants. If you think you might have one, check as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more likely you are to be arrested during a traffic stop or other police contact.

Sheriff Warrant Unit

The Sheriff's Warrant Unit was created to handle the large number of active warrants in Tulare County. Deputies serve warrants throughout the county, from Visalia to Porterville to the small towns in between. If you have a warrant, deputies may come to your home or workplace to arrest you. It is better to turn yourself in than to be picked up unexpectedly.

You can turn yourself in at the Sheriff's Office at 2404 W Burrel Ave in Visalia. Bring your photo ID. Tell the staff you have a warrant and want to clear it. Depending on the charge and bail amount, you may be booked into county jail or given a court date. Some warrants allow you to post bail and leave. Others require you to stay in custody until you see a judge.

The Sheriff works with local police departments in Tulare County cities. If you are stopped by city police, they will check for warrants. If you have one, you will be arrested. Do not think a warrant will go away if you avoid the Sheriff. Any law enforcement officer in California can see your warrant and arrest you on it.

Note: The Sheriff's Office handles county jail operations, so if you are booked you will be held at the county facility.

Superior Court Warrants

Tulare County Superior Court has locations in Visalia, Porterville, and Dinuba. The main courthouse is in Visalia. When you fail to appear in court, the judge issues a bench warrant. California Penal Code Section 978.5 allows judges to issue bench warrants when defendants do not show up as ordered. You can read the statute at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. The warrant stays active until you go back to court or the judge recalls it.

Traffic warrants are common in Tulare County. If you got a ticket and did not appear for your court date, a bench warrant was likely issued. California Vehicle Code Section 40508 makes it a misdemeanor to willfully fail to appear on a traffic charge. You can read that law at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. Even if the original ticket was for a minor violation, the failure to appear makes it worse. Your license may be suspended until you clear the warrant.

Arrest warrants come from new criminal charges filed by the District Attorney. If the prosecutor files a case and a judge finds probable cause, an arrest warrant is issued. These warrants can be for felonies or misdemeanors. Bail is set based on the charge and your criminal history. High bail on felony charges may require a bail bond agent. Tulare County has multiple bail bond companies in Visalia and other cities.

The court clerk can tell you if you have an active warrant. Call the courthouse or visit in person. Bring your ID. The clerk can look up your case and tell you what steps to take. You may be able to appear on a walk-in calendar to see a judge the same day if your warrant is for a minor issue. For serious felonies, you will likely need a lawyer.

Clear a Warrant in Tulare County

If you have a warrant in Tulare County, you need to deal with it. Here are your options.

Turn yourself in at the courthouse or the Sheriff's Office. Go early in the morning if you want to see a judge the same day. Bring your photo ID and any paperwork about your case. If the warrant is for a minor issue, you may get a court date without being arrested. If it is serious, you may be booked into jail. Turning yourself in shows you are taking responsibility.

Post bail if your warrant has a bail amount. You can pay cash at the courthouse or use a bail bond company. Once bail is posted, the warrant is lifted and you get a new court date. You must show up for that date or the bail is forfeited and a new warrant is issued. Bail bond agents in Visalia and Porterville can help you post bail quickly.

Hire a lawyer if you have a serious warrant or need legal advice. A lawyer can file a motion to recall the warrant or reduce bail. They can represent you in court and negotiate with the prosecutor. Lawyers who practice in Tulare County know the local judges and court procedures. They can give you advice on the best way to handle your case.

Some traffic warrants can be cleared by paying the fine. Call the court and ask if that is an option. If your license is suspended because of a warrant, you need to clear the warrant first. The court will send a notice to DMV once the warrant is recalled. It may take a few weeks for DMV to update their system.

Cities in Tulare County

Tulare County has several cities. Visalia is the county seat and largest city with around 135,000 people. Tulare has about 70,000 residents. Porterville has around 60,000. Dinuba has about 25,000. Smaller cities include Exeter, Farmersville, Lindsay, and Woodlake.

Visalia Police Department is at 303 S Johnson Street. Call the Records Supervisor at (559) 713-4219 for police records. Warrants for Visalia cases are issued by the Superior Court and served by Visalia Police or the Sheriff.

Other cities have their own police departments or contract with the Sheriff for law enforcement. All warrants go through the county court system. Check with your local police department first for arrest info, then contact the Sheriff or court for warrant details.

Nearby Counties

Tulare County is in the Central Valley. It borders Fresno County to the north, Kings County to the west, Kern County to the south, and Inyo County to the east. If you are not sure where a warrant is from, check nearby counties.

Fresno County Sheriff is at 2200 Fresno Street. Call (559) 600-8401 for records or (559) 600-8402 for warrants. Their court portal is at publicportal.fresno.courts.ca.gov.

Kern County Sheriff is at 1350 Norris Road in Bakersfield. Call (661) 391-7624. Their court portal is at portal.kern.courts.ca.gov.

Kings County is to the west. Check with their Sheriff's Office for warrant info if you have connections to that county.